Lawyer goes to court, seeking Lalu Prasad’s removal

Patna, April 11 (IANS) A petition has been filed against Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in the high court here, seeking his removal from the central ministry for his threatening remarks against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Varun Gandhi. The public interest litigation (PIL) petition was filed Friday by S.N. Pathak, a lawyer who practises in the high court. He alleged that by making provocative remarks against Varun Gandhi, Lalu Prasad had violated the constitutional provisions under which he took oath of the office as railway minister.

An official said Saturday that the court would hear the petition next week.

Lalu Prasad, who is also Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, Monday said at a poll rally in Bihar’s Kishanganj district that had he been the home minister he would have run a “roller” over Varun Gandhi for Varun’s hate speeches against Muslims.

“If I were the country’s home minister, and if Varun had said this, then I would have run a roller over his chest and thought about the consequences later.”

Varun Gandhi had reportedly made the remarks during his campaign in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, where he is the BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha polls.

He is presently in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah jail for the speeches, facing charges under the National Security Act.